Difference between an associates degree and a bachelors degree
The most basic difference between an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree is that the time taken to complete the latter is more than what is taken for an associate degree. A bachelor’s degree will open more channels and more opportunities than an associate degree. Generally, an associate degree program takes a student a step closer for transfer to bachelor’s program. Bachelor’s degree programs are mostly courses that provide an advanced study in a specific major. A bachelor’s degree is often the minimum qualification required in certain courses like teaching and engineering.
- An associate degree program will take up two years while bachelors will consume four years.
Often an associate degree is a better option for keeping in view the increased tuition costs. Associate degrees are often open enrolment, which caters to students to sign up for classes without application whereas a bachelor program requires an intense process of application with a lot of screenings. The course of study on completion of an associate degree will confer degrees like Associate of Applied Sciences, Associate of Arts, and Associate of Sciences while Bachelors will confer Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Architecture, and the like. Associate degree programs enable students to take up courses for a particular career or general studies.
The courses include studies in fields such as digital animation, automotive repair, culinary arts, social work, and health and information technology. The popular programs at baccalaureate levels are in business, science, education, and humanities. The associate degree programs are more inclined towards training students in a specific skill. These are available as an occupational or a vocational degree. At times, a student can also complete an associate transfer degree with an aim to transfer to a college or a university. The bachelor’s courses require all students to complete general education courses. These classes may also be called a core curriculum which includes philosophy, languages, math, history, and English. Some courses allow students to take up a particular area of interest that adds an interdisciplinary aspect to the study. Such a subject is called an elective. Most of the students who pursue associate degree programs consider it as a stepping stone to bachelor’s courses, but there are certain courses that essentially require an associate degree. Such programs are for healthcare technicians, and medical assistance, paralegal studies, and a few others. Statistics reveal that students who have a bachelor’s degree tend to earn higher salaries than students who have an associate degree, which is sometimes considered as high school diplomas.
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